Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-28
"Given to Hospitality"
- o.rHARINE LENT STEVENSON.

xN1I ~
'',,Iye visitors. ! made it my ono
" when we began housekeeping.
.'dI Helen, we may not have the
s .a kind of cookery on our table. but
w. one thing must always be there,
Ito and fork for the stranger that
within our gates" We've follow
:, ,hat rule almost to the letter for
y ,,nost fifteen years, and it's wonder
~ how the Lord honors the cheerful
ryer; there pretty generally is stran-
within on gates, while our neigh
pors'-
7 should think there might be, inter-
,,ed Deacon Grants companion,
nth an amused smile, IF you hail
.;r on the road a mile from your
,ome. and force him back with you in
mite of himself; on wash-day, too"
u continued, alphabetically, as. emerg-
mo from the stable door, he saw tall,
,ander woman coming around the
,orner of the house with basket piled
hicb with newly washed-clothes.
"Wash-dayp Well what if it lisp
Folks cat on wash-day, don't theyp
Heenr'-as thay approached the
.lothes-linc-'.this is DR.. Brownell. the
,ouno man who is going to put up his
ion in our village. | was lucky enough
~ meet him on the road just now, so /
orought him back to dinner. Near
ready, amt itP'
"Very nearly, James. How do you
40. srP The clothes-yard is hardly
The place for formal introduction, but
al times and seasons are alike to my
busband;" and the smile which lighted
Mrs. Grants once beautiful, but now
sadly worn face, had in it tipge of
bitterness which did not escape the doe
tors watchful eye.
"Pocr woman" he murmured to
himself; ''ts just as her aunt told me;
she's daily immolation on the alter of
hospitality.
'Of course they are" said the dea-
,on. all unconcious of this by-play of
thought; where's the difference in
lines and seasonsp If mans ready
10 receive his friends on Thursday af-
ternoon, why should't he be ready on
Monday morning? A friends friend,
and a days u day. l don't see that it
matters much what name you call it.
But come into the house, doctor, you'll
melt in this broilng sum- and the dea-
ron lead the way, through the vine
covered porch, into the cool sitting
room.
The doctor sank into the easy chair
proflered h III with n sigh of relief 1t
was such a change from the glare out
ide-,this dainty room. with its screened
windows, its floor covered with cool
mating, its vases of delicate flowers.
Isn't it del.cious?" he exclaimed.
ayes, said the deacon, this is
what call comfort Excuse me if take
of my coat After a hot days work,
to come in and stretch yourself on this
lounge for an hour is something worth
WHILE and | enjoy 1t twice as much if
there is somebody with me.'
An opening door just then let in the
rattle of dishes from an adjoining
room, and the doctor found himself
wondering how many hours day Mr.
Grant took to enjoy the GOODNESS; but
be only said, ''you are very hos
pltablc man, Deacon Grant"
"Wel!' said the deacon. with the
air of man who. though not uncon-
ciOus of his merits, could yet be hum
bic III that consciousness I've al
ways considered hospitality one of the
cardinal virtues in fact, l may say the
cardinal one. What greater condem-
nation could the Master pronounce
than 4 was a stranger, and We took me
not in p Eve tried to liv with that
passage before me for the past fifteen
years, and | can assure YOU that no
one was ever turned empty from mn
aoor. Why, I've had dozens of poor
fellows stop here months at time when
they have been looking for work. |
aon tsay t boastingly, but you can ask
deacon Grants reputation anywhere
about here, and you II be told that m
gwen to hospitality"
You must be peculiarly fortunate in
securing servants" said the young
aoctor quietly, "or else the strain of so
much generosity would come very
heavily upon your WIFE
wen, no" said the deacon uneasily,
hts pretty hard work to get good
neelp that 5 Il fact, especially as | can It
ai0rd to pay fancy prices. We have
oniy young girl this summer, but an
olo aunt of mine is living here, who is
Sspry as cricket. and helps about a
good deal. Then we have no children,
wa woman work is nothing anyhow
n think your wife looks far from
"eli' and as if she were working much
beyond her strength" said the doctor
III ms most assured professional tone.
|"hoP Helenp Oh no, she always
looks that way, and she's perfectly
wei. L never heard her complain in
'ig llteen years we've lived together.
u Dut the thought evidently troubled
.uo good deacon, for. after few rrel-
esant remarks, he excused himself, and
me doctor heard his voice moment
,ater: rs there anything l can do to
ueip You women folksP"
NO. nothing" was the sharp reply;
d. no1sework amt mans business.
d 1ut don't wonder you ask, Jeems; it
auz seem as if dinner wouldn't be dun
o,uay' Helen kin take the longest
ih an do the least of any woman
Ahow. Why. when l was her age
oust what happend at that remote
peliou the doctor never learned for
'nat moment he heard Mrs, Grants
d d;' "1ou may call your friend to
dinner, James"
" brownell did not need that din
ser hour in order to assure himself that